Joachim Westphal

Joachim Westphal (born at Hamburg 1510 or at the beginning of 1511; died there 16 January 1574) was a German "Gnesio-Lutheran" theologian and Protestant reformer.

From 1571 to 1574 he served as Superintendent of Hamburg (per pro already since 1562), presiding as spiritual leader over the Lutheran state church of the city-state.

Career

He was educated in the school of the parish of St. Nicolai in his native city, then in Lüneburg, and entered the University of Wittenberg, where he became the pupil of Melanchthon and Luther. In 1532, on the recommendation of Melanchthon, he was appointed teacher at the Johanneum in his native city. In 1534 he returned to the University of Wittenberg, and in the following year removed with the university to Jena. After his return to Wittenberg in 1537 he lectured on philology. In 1541 he became preacher of the church of St. Catharine in Hamburg; then acting superintendent in 1562, and was elected Superintendent of Hamburg in 1571.

Theological Controversies

He is best known for his participation in the theological controversies of his time. In 1549, he published for the first time, a work against Melanchthon and Wittenberg entitled Hist. Vituli Aurei Aaronis Exodus 32 ad Nostra Tempora et Controv. Accommodata.

Published works As well as those named above, other works include, Explicatio Generalis Sententice quod e duobus Malis Minus Eligendum sit (1549), Lipsensem Basilium. ... (1549), Der rechte ungefelschte Glaub von dem Hochwirdigen Sacrament des waren Leybs und bluts unsers Herrn Jesu Christi (1554), and Annotationes In Iohannis Stosselii Modum Agendi, Et Brevis Confutatio Calumniarum (1586).

Other works of Westphal occasioned by the controversy on the Lord’s Supper are: Epistola Joachimi Westphali, qua breviter respondet ad convicia J. Calvini (1557); Apologetica scripta Johannis Westphali, quibus et sanam doctrinam de eucharistia defendit et foedissimas calumnias sacramentariorum diluit (1558), and Confutatio aliquot enormium mendaciorum Johannis Calvini (1558).